More Power Than Point
from the powerpoint-backlash-backlash dept
In the past few years, we've noted a trend towards PowerPoint backlash. People started blaming Powerpoint for all the ridiculous presentations that came out of it. However, like so many other things, blaming PowerPoint is pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Powerpoint is just a tool, and it can be used well or used poorly. Blaming the tool doesn't fix things. As the article says: "Which came first on the evolutionary ladder, stupidity or PowerPoint?" The article has a good summary of all the PowerPoint backlash, and explains why it's not PowerPoint that's the problem.
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Right tool for the right job
I don't get it. Powerpoint is just a software package. I wasn't taught how to give presentations until I took a 3-day course in a corporate training class. The use of an overhead projector and foils was a given. What's the difference between this and doing hand-written stuff on separate pieces of paper?
Kids should be taught some of the things I got in that class. Targeting the presentation to the expected audience or purpose, a 'mind mapping' exercise, eye-contact and personal presentation, getting your attention off yourself and onto the audience--these are all useful things but propably outside the scope of a 6th grade book report on the latest Harry Potter book.
Blaming Powerpoint because kids are using it in school to organize their classroom presentations is not the problem.
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